The people of Shao community in Moro LGA of Kwara State have congratulated Dr. Reuben Kehinde Akano on his victory as he won the 2021 Poetry Prize of “Poet of the Year”, the award which was presented by the Association of Nigerian Authors.
Akano, who won the poetry prize with his poetry collection, Emirate Blues and Home Resistance, has authored other poetry books including Invoking the Emirate Spirit, Song of Awongaga, and a play Pajepolobi, the piece which emerged the 2nd runner up for the prestigious 2021 ANA Drama Prize.
A statement jointly signed by the President and the Secretary, Shao Community Development Association, Architect David Ayo Bello and Elder Sunday Ajao, felicitated the poet on the outstanding feat and commended him for devotedly pursuing his vision to liberate Shao Community and the entire people of Moro LGA from the shackles of Ilorin emirate oppression, marginalisation and injustice through the literary instrument.
According to the statement, the win is not a pride to only Shao community from where the poet hails, but the victory has added exquisite feathers to the crown of Kwara State’s glory.
The statement then appealed to the Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, to see this victory as a honour and achievement from the literary parlance to furnish the image of the State with more grandeur and excellence, urging the Governor to appreciate this triumph by looking into the realities in Akano’s oeuvre and using his good office to dismantle the oppression threat the people of Moro are facing.
The Association also encouraged the award winner not to relent in his mission towards the freedom for his people, praying God to continue bestowing on him more wisdom and capacity to achieve more wins.